ABC TV Show Ratings for 2012-13 Season, Week Four

Published: October 23, 2012

The folks at ABC offer their spin on the ratings for the fourth week of the 2012-13 season, October 15-21. While NBC claims victory in the 18-49 demographic overall, ABC says they won in the demo, in non-sports programming.

Boosting ABC to a Season High on the Night, ABC’s “Saturday Night Football” Dominates in Adults 18-49, Beating Fox’s College Football Coverage by 143%

ABC’s Sunday Dramas Score Across-the-Board Weekly Gains in Adults 18-49, with “Once Upon a Time” Up 10%, “Revenge” Up 8% and “666 Park Avenue” Up 13%

WEEK No. 4

During the week of October 15, 2012, ABC (8.0 million) finished as the 2nd-most-watched network for 3rd time in 4 weeks this season, outdrawing an NFL-fueled NBC by 7% (7.5 million) and Fox by 36% (5.5 million). In fact, ABC (2.2/6) won the week in the non-sports Adult 18-49 averages, leading CBS by 5% (2.1/6), NBC by 10% (2.0/6) and Fox by 29% (1.7/5).

· Building its overall audience for the 2nd straight week and gaining 5% in Adults 18-49, ABC marked its best performance since season-premiere week – since w/o 9/24/12.

Rankings: ABC delivered 5 of the Top 20 TV shows for the week in Adults 18-49: “Modern Family” – No. 6, “Grey’s Anatomy” – No. 12, “Once Upon a Time” – No. 14, while “Suburgatory” and “Revenge” tied at No. 20. Based on its 2.3 rating point increase this season in the L+7 data, ABC’s “Modern Family” is projected to finish as the week’s definitive No. 1 comedy in Adults 18-49. The Network claimed 3 of the Top 10 most-watched programs overall, including the No. 1 unscripted series with “DWTS:” “DWTS” – No. 5, “DWTS: Results Show” – No. 8 and “Modern Family” – No. 10.

Monday

“DWTS” and “Castle” boosted ABC (12.8 million) to the front of the pack on Monday for the 4th straight week this season, topping each half-hour and outdrawing runner-up NBC by 1.2 million viewers (11.6 million – “The Voice”/”Revolution”), CBS by 4.5 million viewers (8.3 million – “HIMYM”/”Partners”/”2 Broke Girls”/”Mike & Molly”/”Hawaii Five-0”) and Fox by 7.3 million viewers (5.5 million – 2012 MLB National League Championship). In addition, among Adults 18-49 ABC paced well ahead of Fox’s post-season baseball coverage on the night (2.1/5 vs. 1.5/4).

Growing steadily in each half-hour against strong competition, ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars” (13.6 million) finished as Monday’s most-watched TV series for the 2nd week running and outdrew NBC’s “The Voice” (13.0 million) in head-to-head competition in the time period by 5%. In addition, the ABC unscripted series beat out Fox’s MLB Playoffs in the slot by 50% in Adults 18-49 (2.1/5 vs. 1.4/4).

“Castle” (10:01-11:00 p.m.)

Monday’s most-watched scripted TV show for the 4th week in a row, ABC’s “Castle” (10.9 million) topped the 10 o’clock hour by sizeable margins, beating out NBC’s “Revolution” by 2.3 million viewers (8.6 million) and CBS’ “Hawaii Five-0” by 2.2 million viewers (8.7 million). In addition, the ABC drama ranked as the No. 2 series in the hour in Adults 25-54 (3.0/7).

· Building audience for the 2nd straight week, “Castle” scored its most-watched telecast this season.

Tuesday

“DWTS: All-Stars — The Results Show” (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Shifting back into its new 8:00 p.m. slot, ABC’s “DWTS: All-Stars – The Results Show” finished as the most-watched TV show of the night, beating NBC’s “The Voice” in head-to-head competition (+8% – 12.9 million vs. 12.0 million) and ranking as Tuesday’s top unscripted series for the 4th week in a row. In addition, the ABC dancing results program earned 2nd place in the hour among key Adults (AD18-49/AD25-54). Bristol Palin was the next celebrity dancer to be eliminated from the competition.

· “DWTS: All Stars – The Results Show” drew ABC’s largest audience in the hour in over 1 year and its top Adult 18-49 rating in 8 months – since 10/11/11 and 2/7/12, respectively.

Wednesday

ABC finished a strong second on Wednesday in Total Viewers (8.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.7/8 – pacing within 1-tenth of a rating point for the lead), while ranking No. 1 on the evening with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

At 8:00 p.m., ABC’s “The Middle” ran in a near tie with CBS’ “Survivor” for No. 1 in Adults 18-49 (2.5/8 vs. 2.6/8). In addition the ABC comedy won its half-hour in Adults 18-34, key Women (W18-34/W18-49) and Teens 12-17.

· Up for the 2nd straight week, ABC’s “The Middle” grew over its week-ago telecast in viewers (+6%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%).

“The Neighbors” (8:30-9:00 p.m.)

At 8:30 p.m., ABC’s “The Neighbors” once again dominated its freshman comedy competition, beating NBC’s “Guys with Kids” by 2.1 million viewers (6.5 million vs. 4.4 million) and by 36% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/6 vs. 1.4/4).

· Building its overall audience week to week (+2%), “The Neighbors” was also up in Adults 18-34 (+8%), Teens 12-17 (+25%) and Kids 2-11 (+25%), for its best numbers yet in its time period. The ABC family comedy hit a series high with Kids 2-11, even topping its post-“Modern Family” opener.

“Modern Family” (9:00-9:31 p.m.)

Shooting to the top of its 9:00 p.m. slot in viewers and young adults, ABC’s “Modern Family” beat out runner-up CBS’ “Criminal Minds” by 52% in Adults 18-49 (4.7/12 vs. 3.1/8).

In the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC’s sophomore season opener of “Suburgatory” earned second in Total Viewers (7.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.8/7), while winning its slot with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, “Suburgatory” scored its highest numbers in over 9 months – since 1/11/12.

“Nashville” (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Holding a strong 89% of its Total Viewer lead-in during the 10:00 p.m. hour opposite CBS’ time period veteran “CSI,” ABC’s “Nashville” continued to dominate its freshman drama competition in the slot. For the 2nd week in row, “Nashville” beat out NBC’s “Chicago Fire” by wide margins, leading by 16% in viewers (6.7 million vs. 5.8 million) and by 33% in Adults 18-49 (2.0/6 vs. 1.5/4). In addition, the new ABC drama led its broadcast competition for the 2nd week in row with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34.

· ABC’s “Nashville” is a big gainer in DVR playback. Based on Live + 3 Day data for last Wednesday (10/10/12), “Nashville” shot up over its Live + Same Day numbers by +2.7 million viewers on average and spiked by +1.1 rating points (+39%) in Adults 18-49.

Thursday

ABC earned second place on Thursday night in viewers (7.7 million), while ranking No. 1 with Women 18-34.

· ABC was up 7% in Total Viewers over the year-ago night.

“Last Resort” (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Growing week to week in the 8 o’clock hour against CBS’ top-rated comedies (“The Big Bang Theory”/”Two and a Half Men”), ABC freshman “Last Resort” took second place among its broadcast competitors in viewers (7.1 million) and young adults (1.7/5), finishing well ahead of Fox’s MLB National League Championship, and continued to dominate NBC’s comedies (“30 Rock”/”Up All Night”). The biggest percentage gainer via DVR playback for any 8:00 p.m. show, ABC’s “Last Resort” shot up by 2.7 million viewers and by 46% (+1.0 rating) in Adults 18-49 from the next-day L+SD numbers to the final L+7 numbers.

· “Last Resort” was up over the prior week by 3% in Total Viewers, by 5% in Adults 25-54, by 6% in Adults 18-49 and by 10% in Adults 18-34.

· Improving the hour year to year for ABC for its 4th straight telecast, on average “Last Resort” is boosting its time period by double digits in Total Viewers (+13%) and Adults 18-49 (+20%) over the same point last season with original drama programming.

“Grey’s Anatomy” (9:00-10:02 p.m.)

Coming off a pre-emption the previous week for the Vice Presidential debate, ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” doubled its lead-in among Adults 18-49 (+100%) at 9:00 p.m. to dominate its competition in the hour and stand as Thursday’s No. 1 drama for its 3rd consecutive telecast this season. Leading by double digits in the 9 o’clock hour, ABC’s “Grey’s” (3.4/9) outpaced CBS’ “Person of Interest” by 21% (2.8/7), NBC’s comedies by 79% (“The Office”/”Parks and Recreation” = 1.9/5) and Fox’s post-season baseball by 113% (1.6/4). Jumping in DVR Playback, “Grey’s” adds 3.3 million viewers and a 1.5 Adult 18-49 rating points from its next-day numbers to its L+7 finals.

“Scandal” (10:02-11:00 p.m.)

Retaining nearly all of its Adult 18-49 audience from its last telecast two weeks ago, ABC’s “Scandal” continued to close the gap with CBS’ “Elementary” (pacing within 1 share) in the 10 o’clock hour, while overshadowing NBC’s “Rock Center with Brian Williams” in Total Viewers (+77% – 6.2 million vs. 3.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (+111% – 1.9/5 vs. 0.9/3). In addition, “Scandal” beat “Elementary” to stand as the No. 1 scripted TV show in its slot in Adults 18-34 (3rd straight telecast) and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). A big beneficiary of DVR playback, the 10 o’clock drama built by 2.6 million viewers and by 43% in young adults over its first-reported L+SD numbers to its Live + 7 Day results.

Friday

Featuring “Shark Tank,” “What Would You Do?” and “20/20,” ABC ranked No. 1 on Friday versus its network rivals in Adults 18-49 (1.7/6). The Net hit season highs on the evening in viewers (5.8 million) and young adults.

At 8:00 p.m., ABC’s “Shark Tank” jumped to the top of its hour in Total Viewers (7.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.0/7), leading the pack for the 6th consecutive week in the key young adult sales demo.

· ABC’s “Shark Tank” scored new series highs in Total Viewers (2nd week in a row) and Adults 18-49.

· On average, “Shark Tank” is up by 13% in Total Viewers and by 17% in Adults 18-49 over its prior season average, marking its strongest season ever.

“What Would You Do?” (9:01-10:00 p.m.)

From 9:00-10:00 p.m., ABC’s “What Would You Do?” tied NBC’s “Grimm” among Adults 18-49 (1.5/5), while defeating CBS’ “CSI: NY” by 25% (1.2/4). The ABC newsmagazine was Friday’s No. 2 TV series in Adults 18-49 on the major networks, behind only ABC’s “Shark Tank.”

· Up over the prior week by 2% in viewers and by 7% in Adults 18-49, “What Would You Do?” posted its best results since its season premiere – since 9/14/12. “20/20” (10:00-11:00 p.m.) During the 10 o’clock hour, ABC’s “20/20” ranked as the No. 1 series in Adults 18-49 (1.4/5), outdelivering CBS’ “Blue Bloods” (1.3/4) and NBC’s competing newsmagazine (“Dateline” = 1.3/4). “20/20” beat out “Dateline” in Total Viewers (+8% – 5.4 million vs. 5.0 million), Adults 18-49 (+8% – 1.4/5 vs. 1.3/4) and Adults 25-54 (+5% – 2.0/5 vs. 1.9/5). ABC’s “20/20” featured Chris Cuomo’s exclusive interview with Victim No. 1 in the Penn State sex abuse scandal.

· ABC’s “20/20” earned its highest numbers in 5 weeks with Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 – since 9/14/12.

· On average this season, “20/20” is growing over the comparable weeks last year in Total Viewers (+2%), Adults 18-49 (+7%) and Adults 25-54 (+5%).

Saturday

Featuring “Saturday Night Football” (Florida State at Miami/Baylor at Texas), ABC easily won the night in Adults 18-49 (1.7/6), outperforming Fox with its college football coverage by 143% (0.7/2 from 8:00-10:12 p.m.).

· Hitting a season high on the night, the Net was up week to week by 31% among young adults to equal its strongest Saturday night in 7 weeks – since 9/1/12.

· Growing over the prior week’s game by 20% with young adults, “Saturday Night Football” matched in its best young adult number since the beginning of September – since 9/1/12.

· “Saturday Night Football” shot up over coverage on the year-ago night by 37% in Total Viewers and by 64% in Adults 18-49 (3.5 million and 1.1/4 on 10/22/11).

Sunday

Despite another Sunday of big sports competition from NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” contest (Pittsburgh Steelers-Cincinnati Bengals) and an NFL-fueled CBS from a monster Jets-Patriots overrun into the first hour of prime, as well as Fox with MLB Playoffs (National League Championship Game 6), ABC built its numbers week to week in Total Viewers (+3%) and Adults 18-49 (+5%). ABC beat out Fox’s MLB post-season baseball coverage on the night in both viewers (7.3 million vs. 6.6 million) and young adults (2.3/6 vs. 1.9/5).

“Once Upon a Time” (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

Catapulting over its lead-in by 154% in Adults 18-49 (3.3/8 vs. 1.3/4) and building from start to finish, ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” registered as Sunday’s No. 1 scripted broadcast series for the 4th week running. From 8:00-9:00 p.m., “Once Upon a Time” ranked No. 1 in its hour with key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54) and Teens 12-17. Season to date based on L+7 ratings, “Once Upon a Time” spikes by 3.0 million viewers and by 1.3 Adult 18-49 rating points (+35%) over its initially-reported Live + Same Day ratings.

Exhibiting strong lead-in retention in the 9 o’clock hour, ABC’s “Revenge” finished No. 2 against its broadcast competition among young adults (AD18-34/AD18-49). A big gainer in DVR playback, on average this season “Revenge” leaps from its L+SD to L+7 numbers by 2.8 million viewers and by 1.2 Adult 18-49 rating points (+41%).

· Marking its strongest results since its season premiere, ABC’s “Revenge” was up over the prior week in both viewers (+5% – 8.7 million vs. 8.3 million) and young adults (+8% – 2.8/7 vs. 2.6/6). In addition, “Revenge” was up nicely over its year-ago Wednesday telecast (8.0 million and 2.5/7 on 10/19/11), increasing by 9% in Total Viewers and by 12% in Adults 18-49.

“666 Park Avenue” (10:01-11:00 p.m.)

During the 10 o’clock hour, ABC’s “666 Park Avenue” beat out CBS veteran drama “The Good Wife” in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34. In fact, the new ABC drama qualified as the No. 1 entertainment broadcast series in its time slot for the 4th week in a row with Women 18-34. Ranking among the biggest freshman series this season in DVR playback, on average “666 Park Avenue” sees its Live + 7 Day Adult 18-49 rating jump by 53% (+1.0 rating) and adds on another 2.3 million viewers over its Live + Same Day numbers.